Portable electric cigarette lighter



Nov. 7,1967 C AC 'BS'ON 3,351,73

PORTABLE ELECTRIC CIGARETTE LIGHTER Filed Sept; 30, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 fire/2i 7 [ks/4v [$146507 c. F. JAcoBsoN 3,351,736 PORTABLE ELECTRIC CIGARETTE LIGHTER Nov. 7, 1967- 2'SheetsSheet 2' 7 Filed Sept. 30, 1965- 3,351,736 PORTABLE ELECTRIC CIGARETTE LIGHTER Chester F. Jacobson, Asheboro, NC, asslgnor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Filed Sept. 30, 1965, SenNo. 491,689 6 Claims. (Cl.'219--267) This invention relates to cigarette lighters, and more particularly concerns a portable electric cigarette lighter energized by a self-contained battery.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a portable electric cigarette lighter which maybe adapted by the user for operation in either the right hand or the left hand. Another object of my invention is to provide a portable electric cigarette lighter so arrangedthat' the electric heating element may be removed easily. for cleaning.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a port- -'able electric cigarette lighter equipped with a removable inexpensive heating element which may be readily replaced by the user in the event it becomes defective.

Briefly stated, in one embodiment of my invention I provide a portable electric cigarette lighter having a selfcontained rechargeable battery and a novel heating element assembly which may be readily removed from the frame portion of the lighter in whichtit is supported. One of the features of the invention resides in the arrangement of the frame and the heating element in such away that the heating element may be mounted in the frame by the user so that it is accessible from either one side or the'opposlte side of the lighter, thus making the lighter adaptable for use in either the 'right hand or the left hand.

Another feature of the invention resides in the utilization of a compact sub-frame for the heating element which vis arranged to slide into the frame of the lighter in telescoping fashion so that it may be removed easily for cleaning and re-assem'bled without'the use of any tools.

A further feature, of the invention involves the use of a heating unit assembly which is simple and low in cost, and

which may be easily replaced by the user if it fails to function properly.

Other features of my invention and the manner in which the foregoing and other objects of the invention are achieved will be most readily understood by referring to the following detailed description of a preferred embodi- FIG. 4 is an enlarged side elevation view, in section, of

the lighter shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the component shown in FIG. 3.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention there is provided a portable electric cigarette lighter, generally designated by the numeral 10, which comprises an open-ended housing 12 having a pivotable housing lid 14 and-containing a rechargeable electric battery 16. Also supported by the housing,12 is a frame 18 having a pair of spaced generally parallel wall members 20, 22 provided with mutually aligned cigarette tip receiving openings 24, 2.6 respectively. These parts are so arranged that when thumb or finger pressure is applied to the rear portion of the lid 14, pivoting it to the position shown in FIG. 1, the openings 24, 26 are exposed to receive the tip of a cigarette 28.

The heat for lighting the cigarette 2.8 is supplied by a heating unit 30 which is removably supported within the frame 18 between the wall members 20, 22. The heating unit 30 'is electrically energized by current from the battery 16, and includes a sub-frame 32 formed to be supported in frame 18 between the wall members 20, 22 in telescoping fashion. A two-coil filament 34 formed from high temperature resistance wire orthe like is mounted in the subfr-ame 32 so as tobe accessible from one side thereof, an insulator block 36 being provided to support a pair of contact strips 40, 42 on the heatinguuit 30 for the purpose of conducting current fromthe battery 16 to the filament 34 and also providing support for the filament-34. In order to provide further support to the filament 34 during cigarette lighting operations a perforated supporting wall 38 is secured within the insulator block 36 in a position closely adjacent to and generally parallel with the length of the filament 34. To avoid excessive cooling of the filament 34 when in use the perforations 38:1 in the supporting wall 38 are misaligned so that air flow through the perforations is not directed against the coils of the filament 34.

It is importantthat the light 10 be conveniently usable in either the right hand or the left hand, and to this end the heating unit is not only removable from the frame 18 (which makes the task of cleaning the filament 34 or replacing the unit, when necessary, exceedingly simple) but also reversible so' that the filament 34 is accessible through either opening 24 on one side of the lighter or 7 opening 26 on the opposite side. Ordinarily, the lighter 10 is grasped in the hand in such a Way that the lid 14 may be raised to its open position by the thumb of either the right or left hand. By making the heating unit 30 removable and reversible the present invention makes available an electric cigarette lighter which may be used conveniently and easily by both left and right handed persons, and also makes cleaning and replacement of the heating unit a simple matter. 1

Rem-oval, reversal or replacement of the heating unit 30 is facilitated by formation of the frame 18 with top wall 44 and bottom wall 46 in addition, to side walls 20, 22 so as to form a recess or cavity to hold the heating unit 30 snugly in placeand to'assure electrical contact with the battery 16.. Electrical current from the battery 16 to the heating unit 30 is supplied through a circuit which in.

' .order to supply current to the filament 34 of the heating element 30 contact end portions of the contact strip.48 and the movable contact strip 58' are located within the frame 18 and positioned so that they make electrical contact with contacts 42 and 40 respectively when the heating unit 30 is placed in the frame 18 as shown in the drawing. Should the heating unit 30 be replaced in the frame 18 with the filament 34 accessible through the opening 24 rather than the opening 26, the same electricalcircuit is established,

but in this case the'contact strip 40 is in engagement with the contact strip 48 and the contact strip 42 is in engagement with the contact strip 58. I

In order to permit the lid 14 of the lighter '10 to be opened 'by thumb or finger'pressure and to close automatically the lid 14 is provided with a pivot pin 60 secured to the lip 62 of the lid 14 and arranged to fit in the pivot pin support 64 formed as an integral part of the frame 18. A contact engaging portion 66 of the pivot pin 60'is arranged to engage the free end of the resilient movable contactstrip 58, and to 'press it into engagement with the switch contact portion 56 of the contact strip 52 upon pivotal movement of the lid 14 to its open position. In this manner the filament '34 may be simultaneously exposed and energized as required.

Preferably, the battery 16-is of the rechargeable type and is provided with an insulating support 68 at the bottom of the housing 12 having apertures 70, 72 through which recharging apparatus may be connected.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that my invention provides an improved portable electric cigarette lighter which is simple in design, versatile in that it may be adapted by the user for either right handed or left handed use, and easily maintainable in that the heating unit may be readily cleaned or replaced.

While I have shown and described a particular embodiment of my invention, I do not desire the invention to be limited to the particular construction disclosed herein and I intend by the appended claims to cover all modifications within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim is:

1. A portable electric cigarette lighter comprising a housing, a battery within said housing, a frame carried by said housing, said frame including first and second spaced generally parallel wall members each having a cigarette tip receiving opening therein, an electric heating unit removably supported in said frame between said wall members, said heating unit including a sub-frame engageable with said frame and a filament mounted in said sub-frame so as to be accessible from one side thereof, and electrical means including manually operable switch means for conducting current from said battery to said filament when said heating unit is supported in said frame, said heating unit being insertable into said frame in either a first position in which said filament is accessible through said opening in said first wall member or a second position in which said filament is accessible through said opening in said second wall member, whereby the lighter may be adapted by the user for operation in either the right hand or the left hand and the heating unit may be removed from the lighter to facilitate cleaning of the filament.

2. A portable electric cigarette lighter as set forth in claim 1 in which said heating unit includes a pair of contacts carried by said sub-frame arranged to support said filament, and a perforated supporting wall for said filament mounted in said sub-frame.

3. A removable heating unit for a portable electric cigarette lighter having a frame including wall members arranged to releasably support the heating unit, said heating unit comprising a sub-frame engageable with the frame of the lighter, a pair of contacts on said sub-frame, a filament supported by said contacts and a perforated supporting wall for said filament mounted in said sub-frame, the perforations in said supporting wall being mis-aligned with respect to said filament so that air passing through the perforations during cigarette lighting operations does not directly contact and thereby cool the filament.

4. A portable electric cigarette lighter comprising a housing having an open end, a pivotable lid for covering the open end of said housing, a battery within said housing, a frame carried by said housing, said frame including first and second spaced generally parallel wa-ll members each having a cigarette tip receiving opening therein, said openings being in mutual alignment and positioned so as to be exposed when said lid is open, an electric heating unit removably supported in said frame between said wall members, said heating unit including a sub-frame engageable with said frame and a filament mounted in said sub-frame so as to be accessible from one side thereof, and electrical means including switch means operable upon movement of said lid for conducting current from said battery to said filament when said heating unit is supported in said frame, said heating unit being insertable into said frame in either a first position in which said filament is accessible through said opening in said first wall member or a second position in which said filament is accessible through said opening in said second wall member, whereby the lighter may be adapted by the user for operation in either the right hand or the left hand and the heating unit may be removed from the lighter to facilitate cleaning of the filament.

5. A portable electric cigarette lighter comprising a housing, a battery within said housing, a frame carried by said housing, said frame including first and second spaced generally parallel wall members each having a cigarette tip receiving opening therein, an electric heating unit removably supported in said frame between said wall members, said heating unit including a sub-frame engageable with said frame and a filament mounted in said sub-frame so as to be accessible from one side thereof, and electrical means for conducting current from said battery to said filament when said heating unit is supported in said frame, said electrical means including a first pair of contacts carried by said frame, a second pair of contacts on said sub-frame engageable with said first pair of contacts, and manually operable switch means, said heating unit being insertable into said frame in either a first position in which said filament is accessible through said opening in said first wall member or a second position in which said filament is accessible through said opening in said second wall member, whereby the lighter may be adapted by the user for operation in either the right hand or the left hand and the heating unit may be removed from the lighter to facilitate cleaning of the filament.

6. A portable electric cigarette lighter comprising a housing having an open end, a pivotable lid for covering the open end of said housing, a battery within said housing, a frame carried by said housing, said frame including first and second spaced generally parallel wall members each having a cigarette tip receiving opening therein, said openings being in mutual alignment and positioned so as to be exposed when said lid is open, an electric heating unit removably supported in said frame between said wall members, said heating unit including a sub-frame engageable with said frame and a filament mounted in said sub-frame so as to be accessible from one side thereof, and electrical means for conducting current from said battery to said filament when said heating unit is supported in said frame, said electrical means including a first pair of contacts carried by said frame, a second pair of contacts on said sub-frame engageable with said first pair of contacts, and switch means operable upon pivotable movement of said lid in circuit with said contacts, said heating unit being insertable into said frame in either a first position in which said filament is accessible through said opening in said first wall member or a second position in which said filament is accessible through said opening in said second wall member whereby the lighter may be adapted by the user for operation in either the right hand or the left hand and the heating unit may be removed from the lighter to facilitate cleaning of the filament.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,535,665 12/1950 Boyarsky et a1. 219-268 2,689,902 9/1954 Burtm-an 219-268 X 3,277,271 10/1966 Hunt 219--268 RICHARD M. WOOD, Primary Examiner.

V. Y. MAYEWSKY, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A PORTABLE ELECTRIC CIGARETTE LIGHTER COMPRISING A HOUSING, A BATTERY WITHIN SAID HOUSING, A FRAME CARRIED BY SAID HOUSING, SAID FRAME INCLUDING FIRST AND SECOND SPACED GENERALLY PARALLEL WALL MEMBERS EACH HAVING A CIGARETTE TIP RECEIVING OPENING THEREIN, AN ELECTRIC HEATING UNIT REMOVABLY SUPPORTED IN SAID FRAME BETWEEN SAID WALL MEMBERS, SAID HEATING UNIT INCLUDING A SUB-FRAME ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID FRAME AND A FILAMENT MOUNTED IN SAID SUB-FRAME SO AS TO BE ACCESSIBLE FROM ONE SIDE THEREOF, AND ELECTRICAL MEANS INCLUDING MANUALLY OPERABLE SWITCH MEANS FOR CONDUCTING CURRENT FROM SAID BATTERY TO SAID FILAMENT WHEN SAID HEATING UNIT IS SUPPORTED IN SAID FRAME, SAID HEATING UNIT BEING INSERTABLE INTO SAID FRAME IN EITHER A FIRST POSITION IN WHICH SAID FILAMENT IS ACCESSIBLE THROUGH SAID OPENING IN SAID FIRST WALL MEMBER OR A SECOND POSITION IN WHICH SAID FILAMENT IS ACCESSIBLE THROGUH SAID OPENING IN SIAD SECOND WALL MEMBER, WHEREBY THE LIGHTER MAY BE ADAPTED BY THE USER FOR OPERATION IN EITHER THE RIGHT HAND OR THE LEFT HAND AND THE HEATING UNIT MAY BE REMOVED FROM THE LIGHTER TO FACILITATE CLEANING OF THE FILAMENT. 